Uptower wind turbine component replacement

ABSTRACT

A method for performing uptower maintenance of a wind turbine in order to replace the main bearing on the turbine shaft is disclosed. Embodiments of this method to perform maintenance may include installing a rotor lock to resist rotation of the main shaft during maintenance, providing a lifting device in order to elevate the main shaft, removing the main bearing from its main bearing housing, and installing a replacement split main bearing. A crane may also be installed uptower to assist in the maintenance.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/886,985 filed Oct. 4, 2013, the disclosure of which is herebyincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Wind turbine technology is providing an ever-increasing proportion ofthe electrical energy generated in the United States and worldwide. Windturbines transform kinetic energy, provided by a wind source, intomechanical energy, which may in turn be used to produce electricity. Atypical wind turbine consists of an electrical generator mounted in anacelle atop a tower that may be sixty (60) or more meters tall. Thegenerator is powered by wind, which rotates the turbine blades, whichare connected to a drive train assembly, the drive train assemblyincluding a main shaft connected to the blades, a main shaft bearing,and a gear box which increases the shaft speed passed to the generator.Like the generator, the drive train assembly is usually mounted in thenacelle. It is well understood that one method for increasing the ratedelectrical output of a wind turbine is to increase the diameter of themain shaft, which may well exceed a diameter of one (1) meter. Asturbines are manufactured with larger main shafts, the other componentsin the nacelle may necessarily also increase in size, including thenacelle itself.

As with most mechanical machinery, periodic maintenance, refurbishing orrepair is needed for wind turbines, including the main shaft bearing.Presently, whenever a main bearing fails or otherwise requiresreplacement or maintenance, a large crane is used to first retract thenacelle roof, then remove an associated rotor assembly, and lastlyextract the entire drive train assembly. When the drive train assemblyreaches the ground, the gearbox may be unmated from the main shaft. Themain shaft and main bearing are then sent to a repair shop to remove theold bearing and install a new one, often through a press-fit method. Themain shaft with the new main bearing may then be mated with the gearbox,and then the crane will install the repaired drive train assembly intothe nacelle. The process of removing the entire drive train assemblyrequires a large crane, which is itself difficult and costly to install.Additional time and expense is incurred by transporting the drive trainassembly to an off-site location. Thus, a method for replacing the mainbearing uptower is desired, particularly in larger turbines.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order toprovide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. Thissummary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is intended toneither identify key or critical elements of the invention nor delineatethe scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some conceptsof the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detaileddescription that is presented later.

In one embodiment, a method is disclosed for performing maintenance of awind turbine, the wind turbine including one or more turbine bladesconnected to a main shaft, and a nacelle housing for enclosingcomponents of the wind turbine including at least a portion of the mainshaft and a main bearing, the main bearing fixable to a stationaryposition with respect to the main shaft by a main bearing housing. Themethod may include the steps of: installing a rotor lock in order toresist rotation of the main shaft during maintenance of the windturbine; providing a lifting device in order to elevate the main shaftto a clearance height; removing the main bearing from the main bearinghousing; and installing a split main bearing to the main shaft.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of the uptower components of a windturbine, with the nacelle roof in a partially-retracted position, inaccordance with the disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates a crane mounted uptower to the nacelle housing, inaccordance with the disclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a gear train removed from the windturbine;

FIG. 4 illustrates an enhanced view of a section of the gear train ofFIG. 3 showing a shaft lifting device in accordance with the disclosure;

FIG. 5 illustrates a first top perspective of an embodiment of a geartrain with an embodiment of a main shaft rotational element installed,in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 6 illustrates an enhanced side perspective view of the gear trainand main shaft rotational element installed of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 illustrate a side perspective view of the gear train and mainshaft rotational element of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 illustrates a second top perspective view of the embodiment ofthe gear train and main shaft rotational element of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 illustrates a top view of the embodiment of the gear train andmain shaft rotational element of FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 illustrates a rear perspective view of a gear train inaccordance with the disclosure;

FIG. 11 illustrates a perspective view of a main bearing housing inaccordance with an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 12 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a split mainbearing in accordance with the disclosure; and

FIG. 13 illustrates a rear view of an installation of a new main bearinghousing in accordance with the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description and the appended drawings describeand illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention solely for thepurpose of enabling one of ordinary skill in the relevant art to makeand use the invention. As such, the detailed description andillustration of these embodiments are purely exemplary in nature and arein no way intended to limit the scope of the invention, or itsprotection, in any manner. It should also be understood that thedrawings are not to scale and in certain instances details have beenomitted, which are not necessary for an understanding of the presentinvention, such as conventional details of fabrication and assembly.

Where a turbine may include one or more turbine blades connected to amain shaft and a nacelle housing for enclosing components of the windturbine including at least a portion of the main shaft and a mainbearing, the main bearing fixable to a stationary position with respectto the main shaft by a main bearing housing, a method to performmaintenance of the wind turbine may include the steps of installing arotor lock in order to resist rotation of the main shaft duringmaintenance of the wind turbine, providing a lifting device in order toelevate the main shaft to a clearance height, removing the main bearingfrom the main bearing housing, and installing a split main bearing tothe main shaft.

Embodiments of this method to perform maintenance may further includeaffixing a crane proximate to a portion of the nacelle housing, thecrane operable to maneuver and lift components of the wind turbine. Thecrane may be sectionable into components and the step of affixing thecrane may further include assembling the components of the craneuptower. The rotor lock may circumscribe at least a portion of the mainshaft when installed. The rotor lock may be installed between theturbine blades and the main bearing housing. The clearance height may beapproximately one inch. The maintenance method may further includeremoving the main bearing housing and providing a replacement mainbearing housing for holding the installed split main bearing. After themain bearing and the main bearing housing are removed, and before thereplacement bearing housing and split main bearing may be installed, themethod may include repairing the main shaft. The repair of the mainshaft may include removing damage to the main shaft at or near thesurface of the main shaft, and adding material to the main shaft inorder to reestablish an operating outer diameter of the main shaft.

In some embodiments, the split main bearing may include a first innerrace, and at least one set of rollers, and an outer race. The firstinner race, the at least one set of rollers, and the outer race may beeach provided as pairs of substantially semi-circular components. Thestep of installing the split main bearing may include securing the pairof first inner race components about the main shaft, positioning thepair of at least one set of rollers about the first inner race, andsecuring the pair of outer race components about the at least one set ofrollers thereby securing the first race, the at least one set ofrollers, and the outer race together about the main shaft.

Embodiments of this method may further include affixing a first craneand at least one additional crane on or proximate to a portion of thenacelle housing, the first crane and at least one additional craneoperable to maneuver and lift components of the wind turbine. The firstcrane may be affixed on or proximate to a portion of the nacelle housingand may be utilized for lifting and positioning the at least oneadditional crane in order to affix the at least one additional crane onor proximate to a separate portion of the nacelle housing. The at leastone additional crane may be divisible into components, and the firstcrane may be operable to lift and position the components in order toassemble the additional crane. The components of the additional cranemay individually weigh 50 lbs or less.

An additional embodiment of performing maintenance of a wind turbine mayinclude affixing a first crane on or proximate to a portion of thenacelle housing, the first crane sectionable into components, affixing asecond crane on or proximate to a separate portion of the nacellehousing, portions of the second crane lifted into place using theaffixed first crane and the second crane may be operable to maneuver andlift components of the wind turbine, installing a rotor lock between theturbine blades and the main bearing housing in order to resist rotationof the main shaft, the installed rotor lock circumscribing at least aportion of the main shaft, providing a lifting device in order toelevate the main shaft to a clearance height, removing the main bearinghousing, removing the main bearing from the main shaft, installing asplit main bearing to the main shaft, the split main bearing composed ofa plurality of semi-circular components, and providing a replacementmain bearing housing for holding the installed split main bearing.Embodiments of methods to perform maintenance of a wind turbine may beperformed uptower on the wind turbine. The components of the first cranemay each weigh about 50 lbs or less. The maintenance may further includerepairing the main shaft after removing the main bearing, and beforeinstalling a split main bearing.

With reference now to FIGS. 1-3, the uptower region of a wind turbine100 includes a nacelle housing 110 with a nacelle roof 112, illustratedin FIG. 1 between a closed and retracted position. The nacelle roof 112may be moved between the closed and retracted position by unfastening orunbolting using known or to be discovered equipment. Once nacelle roof112 is in its retracted position, maintenance may be performed oncomponents housed within nacelle housing 110 A hub 104 is also provided,from which a plurality of turbine blades 102 project from. Housed withinnacelle 110 is a main gear shaft 120 which extends from a hub 104through nacelle 110 and is connected to gearbox 130, which may beprovided to increase the rotational speed of shaft 120 for anelectricity generator (not illustrated). In its most basic operation,turbine 100 is operable to generate electricity from wind forciblydisplaying turbine blades 102 into an angular rotation, due to thetilted nature of blades 102, thereby rotating hub 104 and shaft 120. Agenerator may then utilize the mechanical and rotational energy of shaft120, through gearbox 130, for generation of electricity. The weight ofthese components, in addition to the forces exerted by the wind and theresulting rotational forces of shaft 120, requires that shaft 120 besituated within a main bearing 122 to permit free rotation. The mainbearing 122 may be situated inside a main bearing housing 124, which mayitself be secured or grounded to the nacelle housing 110. Nacellehousing 121 therefore provides an enclosure for protecting componentsheld within, such as bearing 122 and gearbox 130, as well as additionalcomponents which may be shown or described herein.

The interior of the nacelle housing 110 may be accessed via a retractingnacelle roof 112. One method or system for retracting nacelle roof 112utilizes a crane 200 which may be installable or mountable proximate tothe uptower components. In the illustrated embodiment, a jib crane 200may be installed on top of nacelle housing 110 through any known or tobe discovered means of fastening or attaching, including but not limitedto, threaded fasteners, clamps, adhesives, friction fit, suction orpressure fit, or any combination thereof. One embodiment of crane 200 isillustrated in FIG. 2. Crane 200 may be sectioned or divided intomultiple components and assembled uptower. For instance, in oneembodiment crane 200 may be divisible into components weighing no morethan approximately fifty pounds. Crane 200 may have a lifting or loadcapacity of at least 1000 kg in order to properly lift and manipulateuptower components, in accordance with the disclosure.

In some embodiments, an assist or smaller crane (not illustrated) may befirst installed uptower on or proximate to nacelle housing 110, forinstance on a gearbox pillow block. The assist crane may be sectionableinto components of about 50 lbs or less, and may be elevated uptowerinto position. Once installed uptower, assist crane may then be utilizedto lift and manipulate components of crane 200 in order to install crane200 uptower. Assist crane may have a lifting or load capacity of atleast 500 kg, which may facilitate installation of embodiments of crane200 which are not divisible into smaller components, although asubstantially lower lifting capacity is contemplated within thedisclosure particularly as discussed above in embodiments where crane200 is divisible into 50 lbs or lighter segments. Thus, in an embodimentof the disclosure, assist crane may have a lifting load capacity of atleast 20 kgs and preferably at least 500 kgs. In embodiments of thedisclosure including assist crane, assist crane may be mounted uptowerproximate to one portion of nacelle housing 110 while crane 200 ismounted and installed proximate to another portion of nacelle housing110. For instance, assist crane may be mounted on gearbox pillow blockwhile crane 200 may be mounted on another pillow block. Both crane 200and the assist crane may be installed after nacelle roof 112 is placedinto its retracted position.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4-11, when crane 200 is installed, and thecomponents within nacelle housing 110 are accessible, for examplethrough a retracted nacelle roof 112 as described herein in anembodiment of the disclosure, a main shaft rotational lock or fixationelement 300 may be provided in order to rotationally lock main shaft 120from rotating during replacement of uptower components, including mainbearing 122. A lifting device (illustrated as pistons 220 in FIG. 4) mayalso be provided in order to lift shaft 120 to a clearance height whichmay be approximately one inch, to install a replacement component, whichmay be a replacement main bearing as described herein in accordance withone embodiment. The lifting height should be sufficient to create aclearance between main bearing 122 and bed plate 144. In the illustratedembodiment, lifting device may be one or more hydraulic pistons 220,which are illustrated as positionable underneath shaft 120 in order topush shaft 120 upwards thereby elevating shaft 120 to a clearanceheight. Alternative positions for pistons 220 are contemplated withinthe disclosure including, for example, above shaft 120 in order to liftor pull shaft 120 upwards.

In the illustrated embodiment, main shaft locking element 300 isprovided to secure shaft 120 thereby preventing, or at leastrestricting, rotation of shaft 120 during uptower replacements ofvarious turbine components, such as replacement of main bearing 122,when the locking element 300 is in an installed position. Lockingelement may be secured to both shaft 120, which is freely rotational, aswell as a grounded element, such as a portion of nacelle housing 110,thereby restricting or preventing rotation of shaft 120. Locking element300 may be dimensioned and shaped to fit at least partially around shaft120 and is positionable, in the illustrated embodiment, between hub 104and main bearing housing 124. Dimensioning locking element 300 to extendfurther around shaft may thereby provide greater surface area from whichfasteners 304 may be provided to attach to hub 104. In one embodiment,locking element 300 is circumferentially extends about approximatelyhalf of shaft 120 when locking element 300 is provided in the installedposition. A method for installing locking element 300 may includesliding or inserting locking element 300 either above or below shaft 120and between hub 104 and main bearing housing 124, and then securinglocking element 300 to a portion of hub 104 and a portion of nacellehousing 110 by, for instance, fasteners 304. Other shapes and dimensionsof locking element 300 are contemplated within the disclosure, and otherinstallation positions of locking element 300 proximate to shaft 120 arecontemplated within the disclosure in order to restrict rotation oflocking shaft 120 during replacement of turbine components. As a resultof installation of locking element 300, main shaft 120 may be restrictedfrom rotating in one or both directions even while turbine 100experiences wind speeds of 25 meters per second or more.

As main bearing housing 124 is removed in order to replace main bearing122, positioning of locking element 300 between main bearing housing 124and hub 104 may accordingly restrict main bearing housing 124 fromlaterally sliding or moving towards hub 104 after bearing housing 124has been loosened from the portion of nacelle housing 110 to whichbearing housing 124 is secured or grounded to. In another embodiment,main bearing housing may remain in its current position and main bearing122 may be slid along shaft 120. In yet another embodiment, rotor lock300 is used to prevent movement of the main shaft due to wind forcesbeing applied to the blades. Main bearing housing 124 may be secured toa bed plate 144, which can be attached to nacelle housing 110 or may bean integral piece of nacelle housing 110. A locking edge or ridge 302may accordingly be provided on locking element 300 which may contact, ornearly contact, bearing housing 124 in order to restrict lateralmovement of bearing housing 124 when locking element 300 is installed.As shown in the illustrated embodiment, locking edge 302 may be anextrusion of locking element 300 which contacts, or nearly contacts,bearing housing 124 when locking element 300 is installed. Additionalembodiments of locking edge 302 are contemplated within the disclosureincluding, for instance, a separate component attached or attachable tolocking element 300. Locking edge 302 may be provided on one or multipleportions of locking element 300. In the illustrated embodiment, mainbearing housing 124 may be secured to corresponding side surfaces 140A,140B of bed plate 144. Side surfaces 140A, 140B may be planar orsubstantially planar at least at the portion of surfaces 140A, 140B inwhich main bearing housing 124 is attached. Sides surfaces 140A, 140Bmay terminate at a side surface lip 142, and locking edge 302 may bepositionable on or over one or more of side surfaces 140A, 140B in orderto contact, or nearly contact, an edge of main bearing housing 124 whenlocking element is in the installed position. Positioning of lockingedge 302 of side surface lip 142 may further operate to restrictrotation of shaft 120 when locking element 300 is installed as a resultof side surface lip 142 contacting locking edge 302 thereby interferingwith rotation of shaft 120.

Shaft 120 may have a variable diameter with the diameter of shaft 120greater towards the rear proximate to gearbox 130, thereby inherentlyrestricting movement of bearing housing 124 when it is unsecured fromnacelle housing 110. Bed plate 144 may also have attached or integratedcomponents to restrict unwanted sliding of main bearing housing 124.Additionally, portions or components of bed plate 144 may be providedproximate to main bearing housing 124 for contacting, or nearlycontacting, main bearing housing 124, aside from the points ofconnection on side surfaces 140A, 140B, thereby restricting it fromlaterally moving towards gearbox 130. Bed plate 144 may be extruded fromnacelle housing 110 or attached to nacelle housing 110 as a separateinstallable element. One or more locking eyes 142 may be furtherprovided as a portion of bed plate 144, which may be offset from theremoval path of main bearing housing 124.

In order to remove main bearing housing 124, the fasteners connectingmain bearing housing 124 to bed plate 144 may be loosened and removed.The main bearing housing may then be forcibly slid along shaft 120towards gearbox 130. In some embodiments where shaft 120 has a varyingdiameter, the main bearing housing 124 may be more manipulable when itis slid towards gearbox 130 into an area which may be referenced hereinas a removal position of the main bearing housing 124. Main bearinghousing 124 may be removed by drilling two holes at a top (or 12o'clock) position and a bottom (or 6 o'clock) position. Other knownmethods of cutting are contemplated within the disclosure in order toremove main bearing housing. 124. In order to then remove main bearing122, heat may be applied from a heat source in order to permit mainbearing 122 to slide down shaft 120 in the same direction which mainbearing housing 124 may slide to a removal position, as described above.With a space or distance created between shaft 120 and bearing 122 atthe removal position where portion of shaft 120 has a smaller diameter,a protective material (not illustrated) may be inserted between bearing122 and shaft 120 in order to protect shaft 120 as bearing 122 isremoved. Bearing 122 may then be removed by a cutting process, with asaw or grinder for instance, or any other known or to be developedmethod for removing main bearing.

With locking element 300 in its installation position, therebyrestricting or securing rotation of main shaft 120 in one or bothrotational directions, lifting device 220 may activate in order to liftshaft 120 upwards in order to separate shaft 120 a clearance distance(such as one half inch or more, depending upon size and shape of acomponent, for instance) from the shaft's operating position. Liftingdevice 220 may be installed before, after, or simultaneously withlocking element 300. In one embodiment, lifting device is attached tolocking element 300 and, accordingly, they are installed substantiallysimultaneously. In the illustrated embodiment, an upper portion oflifting device 210 is secured to hub 104 while a lower portion oflifting device 210 is secured to nacelle housing 110, with at least onehydraulic piston 220 provided between the upper and lower portions oflifting device. Actuation of piston 220 accordingly results in theraising of shaft 120. Accordingly, a method for transferring main shaft120 from an operation position to a raised position may include securingmain shaft 120 from rotating using locking element 300, removing mainbearing housing 124, and forcibly lifting shaft 120 using lifting device220. As should be appreciated by those skilled in the art, inembodiments where main bearing housing 124 is removed from shaft 120 inthe raised position of shaft 120, components such as connecting edge302, portions of bed plate 144, and the increased diameter of main shaft120 operate to restrict bearing housing 124 from uncontrollably slidinglongitudinally along shaft 120 which may potentially damage turbinecomponents such as gear box 130 or hub 104.

Once main bearing 122 and main bearing housing 124 are removed from mainshaft 120, inspection as well as possible maintenance of main shaft 120may be conducted. Over the course of operation, main shaft 120 mayexperience surface, or near-surface, damage such as macro pitting, whichmay be described as the development of pits at or near the surface ofmain shaft 120. These pits may develop, for example, as result offretting, a process which occurs due to contact between the main bearing122 and main shaft 120 during operation. Accordingly, repair of mainshaft 120 may include repairing the pits or other surface damage to mainshaft 120. Additionally, the outer diameter of main shaft 120 may havebecome reduced or uneven over the course of operation. As such, thediameter of shaft 120 may be restored to its optimal, outer diameter.Not only may such repairing of main shaft 120 prevent future failure,but it also permits uniform replacement bearings to be installed ontomain shaft 120. For instance, if main shaft 120 experiences a reductionin diameter, a custom replacement bearing may be required to accommodatethe new diameter.

An embodiment of split main bearing 150 is illustrated in FIG. 12. Splitmain bearing comprises a first inner race or component 152, at least oneset of rollers 154, and a second outer race or component 156. Eachcomponent 152, 154, 156 or split main bearing 150 may be provided assemi-circular and mateable pairs of components. Traditional mainbearings 122 are comprised of circular components which may be installedby sliding them along shaft 120. In order for this to happen, the geartrain must be removed from up its uptower position and the main bearing122 must be installed a location off-site from the wind turbine. Thiscan be extremely costly and timely. The method described for replacinguptower components of a wind turbine and, more particularly, replacingthe main bearing accordingly is cheaper and more cost effective as theentire process occurs uptower. By removing main bearing 122 andinstalling split bearing 150, replacement can occur uptower without theneed to remove the entire gear train.

With reference now to FIG. 13, a main bearing housing 124 may beinstalled by positioning a lower or first portion 124A of main bearinghousing 124B on shaft 120 in or proximate to the installation area ofshaft 120 where shaft 120 has a smaller diameter. Once positioned overshaft 120, the first portion 124A may be rotated in order to position iton the bottom of shaft 120. A second or top portion 124B may then beinstalled on top of shaft 120 and the two portions 124A/124B may beconnected or joined and slid back into its operating position, where itmay be attached to bed plate 144. In order to facilitate rotation oflower portion 124B, there may be a designed separation distance from thesidewalls 140A/140B, nacelle housing 110, bed plate 144, and othercomponents which are laterally proximate to shaft 120. In oneembodiment, shaft 120 and bed plate 144 have a clearance distance ofapproximately 21 inches.

The descriptions set forth above are meant to be illustrative and notlimiting, and persons of skill in the art will recognize that variouscommon and known deviations from the above described structures areconsidered to be within the scope of the disclosed concepts describedherein.

What is claimed:
 1. A method for performing maintenance of a windturbine, the wind turbine comprising one or more turbine bladesconnected to a main shaft and a nacelle housing for enclosing componentsof the wind turbine including at least a portion of the main shaft andan O-shape main bearing, the main bearing fixable to a stationaryposition with respect to the main shaft by a main bearing housing formedwith a top half bearing housing and a bottom half bearing housing, themethod comprising: installing a rotor lock in order to resist rotationof the main shaft during maintenance of the wind turbine; providing alifting device in order to elevate the main shaft to a clearance height;sliding the main bearing housing over the main shaft prior to removal ofthe main bearing housing and the O-shape main bearing in order to avoiddamaging a position on the main shaft position in which the main bearingis designed to operate; removing the main bearing housing from the mainshaft; removing the O-shape main bearing from the main shaft by cuttingthe O-shape main bearing from the main shaft; installing a split mainbearing to the main shaft, the split main bearing consisting of a pairof semicircular inner races, a pair of semicircular outer races, and atleast one pair of rollers to rotate between the inner races and theouter races; and installing a replacement bottom portion of the mainbearing housing and a replacement top portion of the main bearinghousing to hold the split main bearing.
 2. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising affixing a crane to the nacelle housing, the crane operableto maneuver and lift components of the wind turbine.
 3. The method ofclaim 2, wherein the crane is sectionable into components and, whereinsaid affixing further comprises assembling the components of the craneuptower.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the rotor lock circumscribesat least a portion of the main shaft when installed.
 5. The method ofclaim 4, wherein the rotor lock is installed between the turbine bladesand the main bearing housing.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein theclearance height is greater than one half inch.
 7. The method of claim 1further comprising removing the main bearing housing prior to removingthe main bearing and providing a replacement main bearing housing forholding the installed split main bearing.
 8. The method of claim 7,further comprising repairing the main shaft after the main bearing andmain bearing housing are removed, and before the replacement bearinghousing and the split main bearing are installed.
 9. The method of claim8, wherein repairing the main shaft includes repairing damage to themain shaft in order to reestablish an operating outer diameter of themain shaft.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the installing a rotorlock, the providing a lifting device, the removing the main bearinghousing, the removing the main bearing, the installing a split mainbearing, and the installing a replacement bottom portion of main bearinghousing and a replacement top portion of the main bearing housing occuruptower on the wind turbine.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein saidinstalling the split main bearing comprises installing the bottomportion of a replacement bearing housing, securing the pair ofsemicircular inner races about the main shaft, positioning the pair ofat least one pair of rollers about the semicircular inner races, andsecuring the pair of semicircular outer races about the at least onepair of rollers thereby securing the semicircular inner races, the atleast one pair of rollers, and the semicircular outer races togetherabout the main shaft, lowering the main shaft, and installing a top halfof the replacement bearing housing.
 12. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising affixing a first crane and an additional crane on the nacellehousing, the first crane and the additional crane operable to maneuverand lift components of the wind turbine.
 13. The method of claim 12,wherein the first crane is utilized for lifting and positioning theadditional crane.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the additionalcrane is divisible into components, and wherein the first crane isoperable to lift and position the components in order to assemble theadditional crane.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the components ofthe additional crane individually weigh 50 lbs or less.
 16. A method forperforming maintenance of a wind turbine, the wind turbine comprisingone or more turbine blades connected to a main shaft and a nacellehousing for enclosing components of the wind turbine including at leasta portion of the main shaft and an O-shape main bearing, the mainbearing fixable to a stationary position with respect to the main shaftby a main bearing housing formed with a top half bearing housing and abottom half bearing housing, the method comprising: affixing a firstcrane to the nacelle housing, the first crane sectionable intocomponents; affixing a second crane to the nacelle housing, portions ofthe second crane lifted into place using the affixed first crane, thesecond crane operable to maneuver and lift components of the windturbine; installing a rotor lock between the turbine blades and the mainbearing housing in order to resist rotation of the main shaft, theinstalled rotor lock circumscribing at least a portion of the mainshaft; providing a lifting device in order to elevate the main shaft toa clearance height; sliding the main bearing housing over the main shaftprior to removal of the main bearing housing and the O-shape mainbearing in order to avoid damaging a position on the main shaft positionin which the main bearing is designed to operate; removing the mainbearing housing from the main shaft; removing the O-shape main bearingfrom the main shaft by cutting the O-shape main bearing from the mainshaft; installing a split main bearing to the main shaft, the split mainbearing consisting of a pair of semicircular inner races, a pair ofsemicircular outer races, and at least one pair of rollers to rotatebetween the inner races and the outer races; and installing areplacement bottom portion of the main bearing housing and a replacementtop portion of the main bearing housing for holding the split mainbearing, wherein said installing a rotor lock, said providing a liftingdevice, said removing the main bearing housing, said removing the mainbearing, said installing a split main bearing, and said installing saidreplacement bottom portion of the main bearing housing and saidreplacement top portion of the main bearing housing occur up tower onthe wind turbine.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the components ofthe first crane each weigh about 50 lbs or less.
 18. The method of claim16, further comprising repairing the main shaft after removing the mainbearing, and before installing a split main bearing.